Every Night about This Year

I find myself crying again 
      in and out of this lifeness
Not so much as when reciting 
      your eulogy, embarrassing
The clock is blinking 3:33
      thieves scamper with the electricity
Outside you can’t keep a good man down
     gravity’s sleeping
And the people are rising
You come in as you always do
    shimmying down the aisle in your 
James Brown wig, embalmed face
    spilling your C & C
There’s not a dry shoulder in the place
    while I exhale and begin again
Or you're playing the Temptations’
    Silent Night over and over singing
Along or should I say howling?
    outside folks of all colors are 
Knocking on doors and singing carols
     kids are trampolining
Into steaming pots melting
    The Wicked Witch is tamed
The window is whole, we get our ball back
    as if this version ever existed
Or sometimes you’re going all in
    yelling Good Gawd Gertie What a Gash!
Or we’re hiding in our closets
    cause it’s that time of the month again 
And you’re doing the bills discovering Mama 
     loves the Jones’s as much as us
The people fall slowly to the ground with
     nothing but parasols to save them
Don‘t forget your bullet proof body 
      suit and helmet, every Mama says
The rain imitates the wind
      the wind imitates the rain
I track your steps like a tiny understudy
     rain and wind become one 
Old record player swaying the same
     song repeatedly, the needle drops 
The song starts the song ends  
    the arm returns
Your mortician’s mouth moves 
    but the night’s silent ‘cept
For the whir of the stylus whispering 
    the turntable isn’t broken
Neither are you or me
   come on kids jump in
The way is hot but full of bubbles
    life isn’t meant to be
Played on a long player
    nor come to a full stop
The arm moves  
    the stylus drops